Earlier in the week, I finished writing the third book in my next Young Adult (YA) series, The Fairest Maidens. Usually, I write pretty steadily, giving myself a set amount to write each day. I establish that amount before I start the series, gauging what I think is reasonable with all my other responsibilities. And then I try to stick to the daily goal so I can finish the book by my personal … [Read more...]
When you reach the end of the road, find a new path
Hello, everyone. I always feel a bit confused and out of sorts when I finish a book. It's The End and I'm always relieved and tired and ready for a three day sleep, but I begin to miss the characters I've been with over the weeks and months. I stare out and wonder what will be next. Usually I have another proposal lined up and chapters to write for the next book. I take a few days off … [Read more...]
Deadlines are my life lines and other musings
Hello! I'm a bit giddy since I just hit SEND on two big projects for two different publishers. For some strange reason that I have not figured out, I usually work on more than one manuscript at a time. This is fun and scary and somewhere mid-through I stop and have a mini-panic attack and think "I will never make these deadlines". But I always do, somehow. Chocolate helps. Caffeine definitely … [Read more...]
It’s Deadline Time: Deadly Justice
Right now I'm racing to deadline on book three in the Hidden Justice series. The book is due on November 1st. I'll make the deadline, but it may be at 11:59 p.m. I have a way of pushing these to the last moment, and then sneaking in under the deadline. So I thought I'd give you some background on what that's looked like over the last month. How exactly did Jaime's story get to the point where … [Read more...]
Oh, what a feeling! I’m dancing on the ceiling!
I just finished writing the last book of a seven book contract. I finished on Monday at around 4:30 PM. The book is due today but I turned it in yesterday at 3:30 PM. Am I happy? Yes. Because over the last three years, in-between and around those seven books, I've moved twice, had health issues, traveled extensively and also written seven novellas and two continuities. I'm not bragging. I'm … [Read more...]